Winter Storm

Over the last few days, temperatures have plunged to highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s. Snow swooshed in yesterday, starting quietly in the morning, then angling sideways with low visibility in the afternoon.

When we checked on the animals in early evening, their backs were coated with thick blankets of snow, a good sign—their body heat stayed with them. It was a nice feeling to know that they were comfortable and that the winter prep we’d done over the last few weeks had helped.

Jeff drove home as the world became dark and gray. When we reached town, the bright greens and reds and blues of the town Christmas lights, lit-up snowmen, and reindeer sculptures cheered us on toward home.

Thanks for Reading!

And I hope you feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the week ahead with this moment preserved in picture and prose. Consider:

• What gives you cheer during the winter?

Share your answer and this newsletter with a friend looking for good cheer.

If Sylvan Sundays was forwarded to you, welcome! To learn more about our farmers, check out “A New Year’s Introduction,” and to learn more about our name, visit “Being Sylvan.” Also, make sure to check out “This Week on the Farm” and “Farm Shop” below!

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This Week on the Farm

Mia loved playing in the snow yesterday, flying down the driveway and leaping around us, inviting us to play.

The photo above reminded me of the shot I captured last year of Mia flying. It’s fun to look through this past year’s posts and to think about which ones we’ll feature as the “Best of 2025” toward the end of this year.

Yesterday, along with checking on animals, we worked on our report about grazing Shropshire sheep in Christmas trees. We look forward to sharing the final version.

Farm Shop

At the North American International Livestock Exposition, we connected with families interested in starting their own Shetland flocks. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for purchasing lambs this spring, reply to this email or contact us via Facebook or Instagram.